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05-31-2013, 12:45 AM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Missoula
Posts: 2
Montana
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Interior light bulbs vs LED bulbs
I've heard that swapping out light bulbs for more energy efficient LED bulbs will conserve battery power while dry camping. I want to compare just one bulb to see if the illumination is sufficient; however, I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO REMOVE THE EXISTING BULB!! Am I just stupid? What am I overlooking? The generic users manual is useless for interior stuff. I am looking for help.
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05-31-2013, 01:33 AM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: EDMONTON
Posts: 11
Alberta
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go to your local rv dealer in the parts dept and ask them for a 24 element led kit , they have adapters with the kit ,open your light by sliding the cover away and pull down. then take out the bulb and compare the ends find the right end and plug it into the led lead install it the same way you took it out and replace the cover when your done, be sure to use the double back tape to fix it to the fixture.they come with instructions as well .good luck
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05-31-2013, 04:58 AM
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#3
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New Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Missoula
Posts: 2
Montana
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Thanks for all the advice. Now if I could just figure out HOW to "take out the bulb."
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05-31-2013, 05:24 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Albuqueque
Posts: 165
New Mexico
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I don't know if you are talking about the 'puck' lights but if so I just learned a few things. The glass face will unscrew from the metal body and depending on the setup its a G4 bulb. Do a search, several ideas and pricing varies greatly.
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2009 F350 CC 4x4 SRW 6.4
2012 Infinity 3750FL
-Countless issues with the trailer=junk.
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05-31-2013, 02:02 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Regina
Posts: 235
Saskatchewan
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I've been doing a little research of my own and there's five things you have to consider: 1) Colour tone of the bulb (cool white, warm white, etc.) 2) lumens or output. Where am I going to use this bulb? A bulb in the living room watching television will be different then the one in the bathroom where you're pulling out slivers or shaving 3) what base do you need - bayonet, wedge etc. The forth thing to consider is packaging - you can purchase the same bulb (colour, lumens etc.) in different configurations so each application will be different depending on the housing you're putting it into. The final decision is price. I've decided on the bulbs I want and am now waiting for the price to drop. A warning here is to watch where you purchase your bulbs. You may get a cheaper bulb on the Net but does it get so hot that it melts the plastic housing or worse yet start a fire.
Right now for my DW and myself there's no hurry to purchase the bulbs so we will wait for the conditions to be right before we do the change out. An RV could cost you upwards to $200.00 to make a complete change, so choose wisely.
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"We were not placed on this earth to see through one another, but rather to see one another through!"
2013 Timber Ridge, 2013 GMC Sierra 6.2 L
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05-31-2013, 03:11 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Kamloops,
Posts: 647
British Columbia
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Hello Gruggers...how r u doing removing the bulb t???...I have the 921 wedge type bulb that slide in sideways..they are small and fragile are not the easiest to remove as u can't get a good firm grip on the suckers.
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2012 Dodge 3500 Laramie Crew Cab: Cummins: exhaust brake: tow haul:
Kamloops
British Columbia
Canada
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05-31-2013, 06:08 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Regina
Posts: 235
Saskatchewan
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They say as you get older that the brain is the first thing to go. To the Gruggers I apologize for not mentioning that my Kodiak 242RESL has wedge shaped bulbs and like Cooper's they are sometimes hard to get out. Sorry I missed that in my original post. Would it help removing the whole fixture so you can see and gain a better grasp of the bulb.
You are absolutely 100% correct in the battery life that you will gain by changing to LED. I seem to recall that the battery will last three times longer switching to Led over the regular filament type.
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"We were not placed on this earth to see through one another, but rather to see one another through!"
2013 Timber Ridge, 2013 GMC Sierra 6.2 L
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06-01-2013, 01:17 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: MILLINGTON
Posts: 227
Michigan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kayakcrazy
They say as you get older that the brain is the first thing to go. To the Gruggers I apologize for not mentioning that my Kodiak 242RESL has wedge shaped bulbs and like Cooper's they are sometimes hard to get out. Sorry I missed that in my original post. Would it help removing the whole fixture so you can see and gain a better grasp of the bulb.
You are absolutely 100% correct in the battery life that you will gain by changing to LED. I seem to recall that the battery will last three times longer switching to Led over the regular filament type.
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Longer battery life is so very true. I witnessed this the other day when I was checking out the lights on our new rig. I started by turning on the LEDs. With each switch thrown there was zero difference in briteness when I turned o. Just these incandescent (MEDICENE can in bathroom) the LEDs all dimmed down
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08-01-2013, 06:51 PM
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#9
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New Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Central Coast
Posts: 8
California
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L. E. D. Bulbs use about 1/8 to 1/10th the power of incandescents. Pay attention to the kelvin and lumen ratings ( color and brightness). They are amazingly bright and efficient. Pricey, yes. But they are worth the money at least in key fixtures. It saves lotsa grief in my rig because I don't get in trouble anymore for walking behind my wife switching lights off. 10 fixtures on now use the power of 1 old one.
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08-01-2013, 07:27 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kayakcrazy
I've been doing a little research of my own and there's five things you have to consider: 1) Colour tone of the bulb (cool white, warm white, etc.) 2) lumens or output. Where am I going to use this bulb? A bulb in the living room watching television will be different then the one in the bathroom where you're pulling out slivers or shaving 3) what base do you need - bayonet, wedge etc. The forth thing to consider is packaging - you can purchase the same bulb (colour, lumens etc.) in different configurations so each application will be different depending on the housing you're putting it into. The final decision is price. I've decided on the bulbs I want and am now waiting for the price to drop. A warning here is to watch where you purchase your bulbs. You may get a cheaper bulb on the Net but does it get so hot that it melts the plastic housing or worse yet start a fire.
Right now for my DW and myself there's no hurry to purchase the bulbs so we will wait for the conditions to be right before we do the change out. An RV could cost you upwards to $200.00 to make a complete change, so choose wisely.
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If you are melting housings with LEDs then you are allowing to much current to pass through the LED, therefore creating the extreme heat. With the proper sized current limiting resistor the LED will operate as it should, no heat output.
Not all LED packages come with built in resistors so you'll need to know if the ones you are purchasing have the resistors included in the package. If not you'll have to add them for proper effiency.
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2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
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08-02-2013, 12:28 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 521
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Sundance...the current limiting resistor is news to me. What is the shape of the resistor and where is it placed?? Is it inline on the power side that you must wire in?? Is that only on bulbs you install or all LED lights?? I have LED lights all over my golf cart and my Motorcycle.. No resistors there unless they are built in.. Tell me more please.
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08-02-2013, 01:23 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tanman
Sundance...the current limiting resistor is news to me. What is the shape of the resistor and where is it placed?? Is it inline on the power side that you must wire in?? Is that only on bulbs you install or all LED lights?? I have LED lights all over my golf cart and my Motorcycle.. No resistors there unless they are built in.. Tell me more please.
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On your scooter you may have the multi-function LED rope arrangement. If so the resistance is built into the circuit that makes them change colors or flash or dim or operate by a remote key fob. Probably the same thing on your golf cart.
A simple resistor just limits the current going into the LED. LEDs have a working milliamp range. Different colors and LEDs with different lumens need a specified current to make them function properly. You can take a normal leaded LED, say a power on indicator on your entertainment center, and connect it to a straight 12 volts. It'll work for a few seconds or longer before it burns up. With the resistor it will work nearly forever because the resistance limits the current to the LED.
LEDs have a large voltage range depending on the form factor. They will work on 110 volt AC as well as DC. With AC a diode is needed. The diode simply blocks one side of the AC phase, making the AC appear to be DC to the LED.
The resistor goes inline with the LED, either polarity will work.
Look at any circuit board with an LED on it whether it be a leaded one or SMT you will find the resistor inline and in front of the LED.
1/4 watt 20% resistors are common in LED circuits. Different voltages and colors have their own resistor requirements also.
I changed my puck lights to LED. I used a 9 element array of LEDs with a 180 ohm resistor. I didn't know the milliamp requirement of the array so I just chose 180 amp because that's what I had on hand. I think I can drop to 100 amp and be ok. The lumens will be higher and that will be ok. I could, if I still had my stock of resistors, keeping dropping resistance until I reached the correct level. That level would be close to having the LED create heat.
1/4 watt resistors | eBay
Very interesting critters these LEDs. Worth a little time to understand how they are made and how they work.
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2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
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08-02-2013, 02:14 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 521
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that is very informative information about LED I never knew. I know a lot about electronics in general so everything your saying I agree with about diodes and resistors and their functions.
thanks for the information and I am going to explore the LED lighting I have installed on my 1832 cc scooter..
thanks again for taking the time to explain..
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06-19-2014, 04:05 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Memphis
Posts: 1,616
Michigan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sundancer 87
On your scooter you may have the multi-function LED rope arrangement. If so the resistance is built into the circuit that makes them change colors or flash or dim or operate by a remote key fob. Probably the same thing on your golf cart.
A simple resistor just limits the current going into the LED. LEDs have a working milliamp range. Different colors and LEDs with different lumens need a specified current to make them function properly. You can take a normal leaded LED, say a power on indicator on your entertainment center, and connect it to a straight 12 volts. It'll work for a few seconds or longer before it burns up. With the resistor it will work nearly forever because the resistance limits the current to the LED.
LEDs have a large voltage range depending on the form factor. They will work on 110 volt AC as well as DC. With AC a diode is needed. The diode simply blocks one side of the AC phase, making the AC appear to be DC to the LED.
The resistor goes inline with the LED, either polarity will work.
Look at any circuit board with an LED on it whether it be a leaded one or SMT you will find the resistor inline and in front of the LED.
1/4 watt 20% resistors are common in LED circuits. Different voltages and colors have their own resistor requirements also.
I changed my puck lights to LED. I used a 9 element array of LEDs with a 180 ohm resistor. I didn't know the milliamp requirement of the array so I just chose 180 amp because that's what I had on hand. I think I can drop to 100 amp and be ok. The lumens will be higher and that will be ok. I could, if I still had my stock of resistors, keeping dropping resistance until I reached the correct level. That level would be close to having the LED create heat.
1/4 watt resistors | eBay
Very interesting critters these LEDs. Worth a little time to understand how they are made and how they work.
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Sundancer - do you have a pic or two of what you did to your puck lights? I don't mind the puck lights as there are nice and bright but we dry camp at racetracks - plenty of battery power and lots solar power installed but the LED is the way to go...
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2019 Ram 3500 Limited w/ Max Tow pkg
2005 Cardinal 33LX
2014-3950, Full Paint, 17.5" tires, 370W solar, 3100W Magnum inverter w/ AGS, 7500w diesel generator, Micro-Air Easy Start 364 (x3) SOLD!
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06-19-2014, 05:05 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
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All I did was remove the two pin Halogen lamp and fixture. I wired in the 9 element with series resistor and stuck it back in the ceiling. The wires and resistor hold the LED element in place inside the reflector.
I tried a pic or three but the flash bounces off the reflector and washes out the components. I turned the flash off but then I wasn't steady enough to get a usable photo because of the blur.
I will if you want, pull a puck out of the ceiling and set it on a flat surface and give it another go.
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2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
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06-19-2014, 05:14 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Memphis
Posts: 1,616
Michigan
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No need - was just curious if you replaceed the entire fixture or not. Would be very interested to know what bulb you used to replace it with though. I have the 36-LED panels in most of my standard fixtures and the work well, but want nice bright light in the kitchen/bathroom.
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2019 Ram 3500 Limited w/ Max Tow pkg
2005 Cardinal 33LX
2014-3950, Full Paint, 17.5" tires, 370W solar, 3100W Magnum inverter w/ AGS, 7500w diesel generator, Micro-Air Easy Start 364 (x3) SOLD!
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06-19-2014, 05:34 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
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__________________
2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
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11-29-2014, 11:55 PM
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#18
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Nanaimo
Posts: 5
British Columbia
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Don't feel bad about not getting the bulbs out. I have a 2015 220 RBSL that just had the dinette bulbs go south and I can't figure how to remove them. There's nothing in the manual and I don't want to break them off. Can anyone give us some clue as to how to remove them. thanks
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11-30-2014, 12:27 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Midland
Posts: 606
Texas
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The pendant lights over the raised bar in my Voltage have automotive style bulbs that you push straight up (hard) and then a quarter turn to pull out.
http://www.lulusoso.com/upload/20120...rake_light.jpg
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Mike & Helen
2014 Voltage 3895 EPIC III
2013 Ford F350 CC DRW FX4
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11-30-2014, 01:07 AM
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#20
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Nanaimo
Posts: 5
British Columbia
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Thanks so much. Got them out. You weren't kidding about pushing them up hard. that's nuts:-) was afraid of breaking the glass
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